NBA: Did Russell Westbrook Get Lucky With That 45-Foot Pass?

Russell Westbrook is a basketball magician. No denying it. But is this the rabbit he meant to pull out of his MVP hat — actually throwing a 45-foot bounce pass on the run to Oladipo through Cory Joseph’s legs? As they sometimes say, you gotta be good to be lucky. Westbrook appears to be both in this case — if you replace “good” with “great.”

Westbrook gets full credit for trying to hit Oladipo with his his dreamy bouncer — even though Taj Gibson could have probably caught it too. And the worst thing that could have happened for the Thunder, given Westbrook’s wicked execution here, is that Joseph would have been called for a kicked ball. (He wasn’t laying hands on this dime, no way.) So Westbrook certainly meant to throw the pass exactly as he did. But the additional flair Cory Joseph adds by dancing over it in mid-stride? Making it go through his legs? That is a little gift form Joseph to Westbrook’s growing legend. Then again, doubting Russell Westbrook has proven to be bad strategy. He probably saw it all clearly in his mind before the game even started…

Russell Westbrook is a basketball magician. No denying it. But is this the rabbit he meant to pull out of his MVP hat — actually throwing a 45-foot bounce pass on the run to Oladipo through Cory Joseph’s legs? As they sometimes say, you gotta be good to be lucky. Westbrook appears to be both in this...